Match Page 2017-18 - Lineups WP: 135

Match Page 2017-18 - Match Data WP: 140

Match Page 2017-18 - Timeline WP:139

Match Page 2017-18 - Timeline WP:139

Match Page 2017-18 - Match Data WP: 140

Dragons Clip Ospreys Wings

jmcconnell4 Nov 2004

When Shawn van Rensburg sealed victory for Gwent ten minutes from time after sustained pressure from the Dragons pack, the sense of a new era dawning in this particular corner of Wales had never been stronger.

For the Ospreys fans, who have experience a winning start to the season, this match would have been regarded as a banker for points, and outside-half Gavin Henson, handed the number ten jersey after his two-try appearance off the bench against Ulster last week, began in scoring mood with an early penalty.Unfortunately, however, his Ospreys team-mates were not in the same gear and a muted first half was only brought to life by two yellow cards and Irish referee Alain Rolland leaving the game with a pulled hamstring.

Scott Gibbs was given his marching orders for a swinging arm as he tackled Dragons No 8 Shawn van Rensburg and the Ospreys were temporarily reduced to 13 men when flanker Gavin Thomas was penalised for putting the knee in at a ruck having set up the attack with a charging run.

It was while Thomas was off the field, though Gibbs had returned, that the Dragons broke the deadlock with the games first try. Prop Adam Black made the initial burst and former Neath fly-half Lee Jarvis threaded through a neat kick with the outside of the boot for Ben Breeze to run onto and score.Henson ended the half as he had begun, with a penalty, and was soon stepping again to level the scores by converting James Storey’s well taken try six minutes after the break.

Jarvis and Henson traded penalties and though Gwent flanker Jamie Ringer became the third to go in the sin bin, the home forwards applied enough pressure for van Rensburg to fall over the line for the crucial try before Jarvis sunk a late penalty to deny the Ospreys even a bonus point